NHL Trade Grades: Giving Out Marks for the Last 15 Trades

Since the 2011-12 NHL season has started, the trades have considerably slowed, as they will likely remain until closer to the second half of the NHL season.

However, we still have seen a few trades, including a trade this past week between the Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators.

Let's take a look at the past 15 trades and grade all the teams involved in the trades. 

October 28: Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators

Trade

To PHO: Cal O'Reilly

To NAS: 2012 fourth-round pick

Grades

Phoenix: B

The Phoenix Coyotes acquired center Cal O'Reilly from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fourth-round pick at next year's draft.

While the Coyotes need scoring and O'Reilly hasn't put up much of that the past couple of seasons, they did not give up too much to get him and his contract is only through this year. If they want, the team can walk away from him next summer when he becomes an RFA and let him become an UFA. 

Nashville: A-

The Nashville Predators got rid of about a million dollars worth of salary space and received a future draft pick in return, which will be good since they will need to develop young, cheap talent since their salary will be quite full next year with the extensions they need to sign.

It is only a fourth-round pick, which means that the best players will be long gone, however, that's all O'Reilly's production is really worth. 

October 23: Phoenix Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens

Trade

To PHO: Brock Trotter and 2012 seventh-round pick

To MON: Petteri Nokelainen and Garrett Stafford 

Grades

Phoenix: C

Right now, the Coyotes yielded average return for this trade. After all, Trotter isn't NHL-ready at the moment and playing in the AHL. 

However, one day, this trade may turn out to be very good for the Coyotes. 

Montreal: C+

This trade was about the same for Montreal, except Nokelainen has actually played a few games for them. However, he has yet to score any points as a member of the Canadiens. 

October 22: Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers

Trade

To VAN: David Booth, Steve Reinprect and 2013 third-round pick

To FLA: Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm 

Grades

Vancouver: A

This was a very good trade for the Vancouver Canucks. Firstly, they get David Booth, who is capable of putting up good numbers, as well as being a close friend of Ryan Kesler.

Plus, they get a 2013 draft pick. 

Florida: B+

The Florida Panthers showed they are truly committed to a rebuild when they traded David Booth to the Vancouver Canucks. 

In return, they received Mikael Samuelsson, who put up more points than Booth did last season. However, Samuelsson had a more talented team alongside to help those numbers.

October 12: Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild

Trade

To DAL: Eric Nystrom

To MIN: Future considerations 

Grades

Dallas: C

The Stars don't have a great financial situation currently and as the old saying goes "beggars can't be choosers." 

Nystrom isn't too expensive, but he doesn't put up much in return either, so this is just an average trade for the moment. 

Minnesota: B+

The Minnesota Wild don't know yet exactly what they'll get in return for Nystrom, but either way, they shed two more seasons of his $1.4 million salary, for which they weren't getting much in return. 

October 12: Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers

Trade

To LAK: Stefan Legein and 2012 sixth-round pick

To PHI: Future considerations 

Grades

Los Angeles: C+

At the moment, this trade is difficult to fully assess because Legein is not yet playing in the NHL.

However, if he turns into even an alright NHL player and they get an okay draft pick next year, this will still be worth it. 

Philadelphia: C

Like Los Angeles, the value of this trade is difficult to assess for the Flyers since they will be receiving future considerations in return. 

It could go either way. 

October 8: Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche

Trade

To ANA: Kyle Cumiskey

To COL: Jake Newton and 2013 seventh-round pick

Grades

Anaheim: C

For right now, the true value of this trade remains to be seen as both the players involved are not currently playing in the NHL, and the draft pick is yet to be seen. 

Cumiskey does have some NHL experience though, which is why he warranted both a player and a draft pick in return. 

Colorado: C

Same with Anaheim, this trade only merits an average grade at the moment. However, Colorado has the slight potential of getting the best grade out of this trade, since they get both a player and a draft pick. 

However, the value remains to be seen. 

October 5: Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils

Trade

To TOR: David Steckel

To NJD: 2012 fourth-round pick

Grades

Toronto: A

I have to give this trade an A for the Toronto Maple Leafs because they get a big center (Steckel is 6'5") in return for just a fourth-round draft pick. 

Steckel obviously isn't the top center they were looking for, but it should still yield a good return, especially since they didn't have to give up much. 

New Jersey: B

The New Jersey Devils did get a draft pick out of this deal, which despite being a fourth-round pick could still yield a pretty good player in return. 

September 9: Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders

Trade

To CHI: David Toews

To NYI: Future considerations 

Grades

Chicago: B+

Even though I have been giving teams average grades for the players we have yet to see much in the NHL, I have to give Chicago a higher mark for acquiring David Toews, the younger brother of captain Jonathan Toews.

If David becomes even a quarter of the player his brother is, he's a great addition. Plus, he should be able to develop quite well alongside his brother, and there is always the possibility of moving him to wing to play on his brother's line; the brothers would probably have great chemistry. 

New York Islanders: C

The Islanders on the other hand, have to get an average mark since we don't know yet what they will yield in return for Toews.

However, considering how well his family member has done in the NHL and in international play, there is a good chance that they let go of a very valuable potential asset. 

September 8: Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers

Trade

To PHO: Marc Cheverie

To FLA: Justin Bernhardt

Grades

Phoenix: C

This is another average trade between the two teams. Both players are playing below even the AHL, as Cheverie is currently in the ECHL. 

Tiem will tell on how valuable Cheverie will become to the organization. 

Florida: C

Florida also gets an average mark, since Bernhardt is currently in the CHL and spent last season in the ECHL. 

August 29: Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames

Trade

To PHO: Daymond Langkow

To CAL: Lee Stempniak 

Grades

Phoenix: B-

Phoenix acquired Langkow, who is nearing the end of his career. He can put up pretty good numbers but also commands a high salary. 

His production should help the team though. 

Calgary: B+

The Flames shed Langkow's $4.5 million salary for Stempniak's $1.9 million salary. Plus, Stempniak is still young and has the potential to increase his production dramatically. 

August 7: San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild

Trade

To SJS: James Sheppard

To MIN: 2013 3rd round pick

Grades

San Jose: C+ 

The San Jose Sharks traded a third round draft pick for James Sheppard, a center who hasn't scored very many points in his NHL career thus far and didn't play one game last season.

However, he is still quite young and could improve on the Sharks, who have more high-scoring players. 

Minnesota: B

The Minnesota Wild traded away a player who hasn't done much for them for a third-round draft pick. They need draft picks to get players they can develop, which makes this a pretty good trade for them. 

July 28: New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders

Trade

To NJD: Trent Hunter

To NYI: Brian Rolston 

Grades

New Jersey: A

The Devils acquired Trent Hunter from the Islanders, shedding more than $5 million of salary space by getting rid of Rolston.

Then, they placed Hunter on waivers and bought him out, which still doesn't have that big of an effect on the salary they cleared from Rolston. 

New York Islanders: C

Brian Rolston is awfully expensive for the amount of production he puts up, so the Islanders are on the losing end of this deal. 

July 15: Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens

Trade

To ANA: Mathieu Carle

To MON: Mark Mitera 

Grades

Anaheim: C

This is a pretty even trade, since both players involved are currently playing in the AHL and will eventually come up to the NHL.

Thus, for now, it's an average trade until they prove their NHL worth. 

Montreal: C

Same as above. 

July 14: Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils

Trade

To CAL: Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond

To NJD: 2012 5th round pick

Grades

Calgary: B-

Calgary acquired Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond from the New Jersey Devils. Letourneau-Leblond is primarily an enforcer and probably has more letters in his name than points he'll score. 

New Jersey: B

The Devils shed more salary by moving another player for a future draft pick. A fifth-round pick isn't that great, but they should still be able to find a quality player to develop. 

July 12: Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers

Trade

To ANA: Andrew Cogliano

To EDM: 2013 second-round pick

Grades

Anaheim: B-

After a great rookie season, Cogliano has yet to meet his projected potential.

However, there is still time (even though he's still not doing much yet for the Ducks). Plus, the team only gave up a second-round pick in return, so even if Cogliano still doesn't meet his full potential, it's not a terrible trade. 

Edmonton: B

The Oilers moved Cogliano for a second-round pick, meaning they could get a player that could put up the same number of points eventually or even more. 

Plus, they moved Cogliano's more than $2 million in salary, clearing some space for another player.